Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We are doing something. Plenty of conversations are happening, as I suspect the Deputy will be aware. The Government speaks to ICTU all the time and we listen to it. We also have to operate within the obvious confines of ensuring that we follow through on the commitments that we have made. We must make commitments that are affordable to the State as a whole, that are fair to public servants across the country and that are fair to nurses. We will do all we can within those parameters to try to find a solution nurses can accept and work with, which respects their profession and ensures they are part of bringing about a more attractive professions for nurses in the future.

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